Time-lock



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BlnNJAMINA F. FLINT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

TI ME-LOCK.

SPECIFIGATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,383, dated April 24,. 1883.

nppncanonmea october7,1sse. (Model.) l

' class otl combined mechanisms wherein provision is made for disconnecting the time mechanism from the non-time lock at will, and for automatically re establishing the connection before the locking-bolt can be retractedin case the time mechanism should be in motion at the time the disconnection is effected.

My apparatus embraces a combination ofthe systems represented in the patents granted to H. Gross, February 8,1876, N o. 17 3,121 to' B.

` F. Flint, September 2 8, 1880, No.232,604, and

to Kook and Hall, February 25, 1879, o. 212,610, arranged in a peculiar relation to each other in connection with various improved details and devicesof my own construction.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a face view of a safe-door and its train of bolt-'work with my improved locking mechanism applied thereto, the parts being shown in a locked position. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts shown with the time-movement disconnected from the lookin g devices.V Fig. 3 is an edge or side view of the time-movement. Fig. 4 is a detail `view illus# trating therelationof the Vdisconnecting devices to the timer. Fig. 5 is aperspective View ot' the angle-bar employed in the combination-p4 lock as a means of disconnecting the timer. Fig. 6 is a rear face view of the trigger or iinger ofthe time-movement. Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the tripping or throw-off mechanism as used in connection with a duplex timemovement to automatically reconnect the same with the locking devices.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the i safe-door B, the bar by which the train-bolts are connected and operated; O, the timemovcment; D, the permutation or `non-'time lock,

and E a lever upon which the time-movement and the lock are both arranged to act for the purpose of' retaining the bolts in a locked position.

The above-named parts are of substantially the ordinary construction and arrangement.

When the bolts arein a locked position their ,retraction is prevented by means ot' a block or arranged, as usual, tc lie beneath a roller ou the `end ot' lever E, to hold the same in an elevated position while the timer engages or locks over its rear end in the manner represented in Fig. 1. l

The time-movement and its trigger F are constructed and operated in substantially the same manner as that described in the patent to Henry Gross, hereinbetore named, the trigger being pivoted to the frame of the timemovement and thrown into action by a spring when released by one of the hands ofthe timer. Thetime-movementis provided with an adjustable revolving hand, G, which acts at 1the end of the predetermined period upon a shoulder of the trigger F to unlock the latter from the lever E. arranged, as in the Gross patent, for the purpose of holding the trigger out of action for such alength of time as may be desired, a second adjustable hand, I, being applied to the time-movement to act upon the dog -H and throw the trigger F into action automatically in the same manner as in the Gross patent. In the eventof a stoppageof the timefmovement before the release ot' the trigger F` thereby it would manifestly be impossible to` gain access to the safe without resorting to violence. To avoid this difficulty l provide, as in the patents to Kook and Hall, a connection between the time-movement and the permutation-lock 1), whereby, through a special action of' the A dog or latch, H; is also.

IOC

permutation-lock, the time-movement may be disconnected or thrown out of engagement with the locking-lever E. These disconnecting devices I operate, as in the Kook and Hall patents, by means of a second or special anglebar, N, mounted in the permutation-lock and controlled by the same tumblers which are p ordinarily used.

Referring now to the details of my disconnecting devices, K, Fig. 4, represents an angular lever mounted in the time-movement behind and concentric with the trigger F. At its lower end this lever K has a stud or finger, c, arranged to vibrate between and act against a stud, d, on the inner side of the time-trigger F, and a stud, e, on the inside of the latch or dog H, Fig. l. This lever K is also provided with a horizontal arm, c', arranged to be depressed by a pin,f, on a vertical slidingplate, L, as shown in Figs. 2, et, and 7,'the latter connected by a bar, M, to the angle-bar N of the permutation-lock, the angle-bar and bar M having a slotted connection, as shown, to permit a limited independent play. The angie-bar N is operated, in the same manner as in the patent ot' Kook and Hall, by means of the ordinary lock-tumblers operated by the lock-spindle, a special and secret combination upon which to set up the tumblers being used. Upon making use of the secret combination and operating the angle-bar N, it causes the bar M to draw down the plate L, which in turn, acting upon and turning the lever K, causes the lip c of the lever to act against the stud dot' the trigger F, thereby throwing the latter out of engagement with the lock-bar E, leaving said lever free to fall and release the lockbolts, when the combination-lock can be unlocked in the usual manner.

When the lever K is actuated from the combination-lock as above described, a hook, R, at its upper end, engages over a revolving shaft or spindle, S, of the time mechanism, in the same manner as in the patentto Flint,for

the purpose of holding the time mechanism momentarily in its disconnected condition. At the same time that the lever K throws the trigger F out of action it also acts upon the stud e of dog H, thereby preventing said dog from engaging with the trigger F, thus leaving the latter free to engage again with the lever E as soon as the lever K is released by the rotation of the shaft S. The action of the lever K in holding the dog El out of action is a matter of great importance, as the dog would otherwise engage with the trigger and hold the same in such position as to maintain the disconnection of the timer, and thus permit the safe to be unlocked by operating the combination-lock while thetime-movement is in motion. When, however, the dog H is held out of action by the lever K, as above described, the parts are left in such condition that the time-trigger F may immediately re-engage with the lever E as soon as the hook It rises from the shaft of thel timer. As in the patent to Flint,the hook It retains the timer in a disconnected condition whenever the motion of the timer has ceased, but not otherwise, except for an instant, as above stated.

In order to unlock the safe when the timer has stopped, before disconnecting the trigger F, the secret combination is first made use of in the combination-lock to operate the anglebar N and disconnect the timer, which is then held out of action by the hook R. The ordinary combination of the lock is then set up by causing the tumblers, through the ordinary angle-bar, O, to retract the bolt of the lock from beneaththe lever E, whereupon the front end of the lever will fall, leaving the bolt-work of the safe free to move backward.

A serious danger encountered in the use of the disconnecting mechanism, operated by a second angle-bar, N, as in the Kook and Hall patent, was found to exist in the fact that the notches or openings in the tumblers were brought into a straight line to operate each angle-bar. It was found that under this arrangement a person having knowledge of one combination and ascertaining the difference between any given number ot' that combina' tion and the corresponding number of the other combination could, by subtracting that difference from each of the numbers of the other combination,determine exactly what that combination was. For example, it being discovered that the difference between the first number of the usualcombination and the rst number of the secret combination was ten, it was only necessary to add or subtract ten from each of the numbers of the ordinary combination to ascertain exactly the secret combination. In order to overcome this difficulty I now construct either or both of the angle-bars in such manner that the tumblers require to be brought into a different relation to each IOO IOSA

other in operating one bar from that which they occupy in operating the other bar. A simple method of accomplishing this result is that of providing one of the angle-bars with screws or studs to enter the notches of the tumblers, said studs being placed out of line with each other. This construction is clearly represented in Fig. 5, in whichuit will be seen that the angle-bar N is provided with screws a', arranged in different lines, the angle-bar being alsov provided, as an additional element of safety, with a series ot' holes to permit the position of the screws to be changed. As regards the construction of the angle-bars, the invention consists broadly in giving them such form that the disks or tumblers must occupy different relative positions to admit .the respective bars. This peculiar construction of the angle-bar N is the invention of J. L. Hall, to whom it was patented September 20, 1881, and therefore I make no claim to this device itself.

In practice it is found desirable to provide the locks ofthe class herein described with two independent time-movements, so that the stopl'IO page of either one will not destroy the security of the lock. When the disconnecting mechanism is used in connection with two movements, it is necessary that the device for momentarily maintaining the disconnection ofthe movement from the lock shall be connected with both movements, and also that it shall be so arranged that the action of either move ment shall re-establish the connection. To this end I make use of the arrangement represented in Fig. 7, in which K represents the disconneetinglever, R the hook for holdingt-he same out of action, and S the spindle upon which thehook engages, as in the figures previously described. T represents a shaft or spindle of the second time-movement, and U an elastic or spring hooked arm to enga-ge therewith, this arm being secured at its lower end to the lever K, asshown. The hook Rhasits rear end extended behind the lever Kin position to hear upon the spring-arm T. When the lever K is thrown forward by the disconnecting mechanism the hooked arms U and R engage over the respective shafts S and T, and it both shafts are at rest, the engagement will be a permanent one. If, however, either shaft be in inotion, it will cause the corresponding hook to ride -therefrom. It' the hook R be disengaged from its shaft S, the arm K will fly backward against the hooked arm T and disengage it also; but if, on the other hand, the arm U be iirst disengaged, it willspring forward against the rear end of the hook 1t and cause its disengagement.

While-it is preferred'to retain the exact construction shown,it is manifest that the details of the two hooks may be modified, the essential feature ot' theinvention in this'regard consisting in the use ot two hooks or detents being so arranged that either being unlocked :first will release the other.

By thus combining and applying these several improvements or systems in one organized mechanism I produce a lock which combines the advantages of all of them, and which would seem to fulfill all the requisite of a complete safety device for safes, vaults, Sac.

It is obvious that the invention may be applied to safe and vault doors which have other means of holding the bolt-Work in a locked position, .as well as those shown, it only being necessary to so modify the connections as to adapt the apparatus to the particular form or kind of device used to hold the bolt-work in itslocked position,andwhich, as is well known, diifers with different makers.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim is Y 1. In a time locking mechanism,the com ment, the lever K, and the connecting device L M, or equivalent means, arranged to be operated by anon-time lock, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 1

2. In combination with a time movement having an arm or trigger, F, arranged to holdl the locking device in a locking position, a dog to hold said trigger tem porarily out of action, and the lever K, connected to thenon-time lock and arranged on said trigger and dog,substan tially as `and for the purpose set forth.

3. `In combination with a time-movement, the trigger F, provided with the stud d, the dog H, provided with the stud e, the lever K, with its hook B., arranged to engage upon a shaft of the time-movement and temporarily hold the trigger and its dog out of action,and the connecting device L M, arranged to be operated bythe non-time lock, substantially as described.

4. In combination with atime-movement, the lever K, with its'hook R, arranged to engage with one of the shafts of said time-movement, and a connecting-bar, L M, or equivalent de vice, arranged to be operated hythe non-time lock, substantially as described.

5. In a time-lock, the combination of tw time movements with two hooks, each arranged to en gage with a shaft of its respective time-movement., a device substantially such as shown for causing said hooks to engage with said shafts by a positive motion, and means for locking the bolt-work, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with a time locking mechanism, two hooks or devices, for holding the same out of action or disconnected from the dogging or locking devices, said hooks being constructed to operate substantially as described, whereby the release of either of said hooks by'its time-movement shall canse the release of the other hook, even though its timemovement may have stopped, as set forth.

7. In combination with a duplex time-movement, the arm or lever K,with its hook It, pro- ICO vided with an extension in rear of its pivot,

andthe spring-hook U, said parts being arranged to operate substantially as described, whereby the release of either of said hooks will canse it to operate upon and release the other, as set forth.

BENJAMIN r. FLiNr.

Witnesses CHARLES BIRD, R. T. PULLEN.

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